Present Time!!!

So many of you are thinking Valentine's Day...already!  So what goes with Valentine's?  Candy, of course!!  I'm giving an adorable stamp set away called "Say It Sweet" by Pink By Design.  I accidentally ordered two of these stamp sets, so I thought one of you would like to have the other one!   Join my FB Group to enter to win by telling me what your favorite candy is under the post titled "CANDY".  (Direct Link on the top left hand side of the blog).  If you haven't checked out Pink By Design, you should!  Click here to see Sarah's fabulous stamps!  Drawing will by Wednesday morning.

:-) Good Luck!  Angela

Connecting With the Crafter: Annie Scott

Today PYL is featuring crafter Annie Scott. Here was her wreath entry for the Sugarplums and Snowmen Wreath Contest.

Now take a moment to get to know a little about Annie by reading her "Connecting with the Crafter" interview with PYL.

What's your name?

Annie Scott

Where do you live?

Arkansas

What was the inspiration for your wreath entry in the contest?

I had a Methodist Preacher (does not currently preach at my church but is still a close family friend) who has over 100+ different nativity sets...I wanted to give him a new one this year and knew he did not have one in a wreath...yet.

What/When did you start crafting?

I suppose I started crafting when I became a Preschool teacher 6 years ago and really go into it when I had my daughter who is almost 4.

Where's your favorite place to find craft supplies?

Hobby Lobby and Michael's are my favorite places!!!...but I have found that HL usually has more of what I am looking for than Michael's. I have to drive 40 minutes to just get to one of those, and there aren't too many other choices around where I live.

Tell us about your crafting space--spacious crafting suite or I craft like a nomad--constantly on the move to the best space available at the time!

I have an office/craft room but I don't really use it but for storage...so I do most of my crafting on the kitchen table which means I move the things I am working on a lot. I have several "projects" going at one time and have wreaths hanging all over my house wherever I can find for them to hang. It is one of my goals to get my office/craft room in order before the new year...maybe over Christmas break. I don't mind crafting on the kitchen table because it allows me to still be close and interact with my family at the same time, I really just want a "spot" for my Cricut Expression in case I actually get it for Christmas this year.

What's your favorite occasion to craft for?

My daughter's birthday seems to be what I put the most effort into...I even have a scrapbook section set up at each birthday party so that the adults can scrapbook about her last year while the children are playing the games, etc. This has been really awesome because at the end of the party I have a full scrapbook that I did not have to do all by myself. This year, I have also done several things for Halloween and Christmas! I really look forward to trying to do the deco mesh on my Christmas tree.

Besides crafting, what other things do you like to do?

I live near the lake, so we enjoy spending time on the lake when it is warm...Watching Razorback football...Anything that involves spending time with friends and family!...and Shopping, of course.

And these are just for fun:

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Red

Coffee or Soda?

Coke

And finally, Tis the Season:

“Miracle on 34th Street” or “A Christmas Story” or “Christmas Vacation”?

My family is "Christmas Vacation"!!!

Episode 73: An Easy DIY Clock Decoration

This is quick post to show you how to make a very easy clock decoration.  Supplies needed:

10 inch cake round
scrapbook paper
adhesive (I use my ATG 714 Gun--framingsupplies.com)
Scissors
black vinyl (signwarehouse.com)
Cricut Expression
Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite

Here are a few pics of my New Year's clocks:

And here is the how-to video:



Episode 72: Working on my New Year's Decor

I wanted to do a little something different around my door for New Year's, so I am adding a canvas element.  Stay tuned tomorrow for the finished project.  Here is a sneak peek:

Here are the supplies.  Please check out the video that follows because I tell you where I found everything in the pictures below. :

And here is the how-to video:

Episode 71: My Christmas Present

****Special Note****

I e-mailed HurCraft this morning regarding the shipping overcharge and promptly received an e-mail back apologizing for the mistake and a promise to refund the difference.  I am pleased with their efforts to remedy the situation.  I should also note that the table was in stock, shipped promptly and arrived on the specified date of delivery.

Merry Christmas

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  Luke 2:6-14

From my home to yours, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Angela

Centerpiece in Minutes...and I didn't buy a thing!!!

In the photos below, I put together a Christmas table centerpiece in literally 10 minutes using decorations I already had.

Do the boxes look familiar?  They should because they are the boxes that I used as table decorations for my daughter's school Christmas party.  See how I used them last year by clicking on the "Christmas Centerpieces" post, here.

After positioning the boxes, I added the Santa boot, Snowman and leftover Christmas ornaments, scattered all around.  My one piece of advice:  don't forget to add interest with different heights.  Decor can look boring if it is all at the same level.  And don't be afraid to experiment.  It's your stuff.  Have fun with it!

My Diva Tree

I thought I would share some pics of My Diva Tree from last year.  I put it up in my craft room.  Unfortunately, I ran out of time this year and didn't get it up.  Can you say....MUST start decorating next year RIGHT AFTER HALLOWEEN!!!!  Anyway, I bought the pink tree at Garden Ridge, and I love it! 

Christmas Centerpieces

I was Homeroom Mom last year for my child's class.  I made these centerpieces for the tables, and then I brought them home for my breakfast table:

Supplies Needed:

Paper Mache Boxes (Hobby Lobby)
Paint
Styrofoam
Red Vinyl (www.signwarehouse.com)
Cricut Machine
Favorite Cricut Font Cartridge
Lollipop Yard Ornaments (Hobby Lobby)
Candy Picks (Hobby Lobby)
Candy of your choice

1.  Paint paper mache boxes.  These are painted with chalkboard paint because I had initially planned to write lines from Christmas carols on them.  But, I didn't like the way regular chalk looked on the boxes.  Had I used liquid chalk, I probably would have liked it.  I did not use the tops of the boxes for this display.  So, I decided to cut out the words in vinyl instead.

2.  Cut out phrases from Christmas carols out of red vinyl.  I used my Cricut.  I can't remember the font.  I want to say Sesame Street Sunny Day, but I'm not completely certain.

3.  Apply the letters to the boxes.  If you want a curved look, you will have to apply the letters individually.

4.  Fill the boxes with Styrofoam blocks, topped off with a Styrofoam circle about an inch from the top of the boxes.

5.  Put the yard ornament down into the center of the Styrofoam.

6.  Cover the rest of the top with candy picks and real Christmas candy.

Giveaway Time!

I haven't had a Giveaway in a while, so it's time.  The lucky winner will receive a brand new package of Gold Glamour Rope--25 feet!  All you have to do is join my Facebook Group--Prettify Your Life (direct link in the top left column) and comment below the "Glamour Rope Giveaway" Document on the wall.  One entry per person please!  Drawing will be Monday at noon.  Good Luck!!!

Episode 70: My Christmas Island

I am finishing up my Christmas Kitchen series with some pics and a video of my kitchen island.

And here's the video:

A Christmas Gift Tag

Well, it's time to get those presents wrapped, so I am going to show you step-by-step how I made some wooden Christmas tags, a similar process to the one I used to make my Halloween tags in Episode 45.

1.  I bought this little wooden stocking cut-out at Michael's about a month ago.

2. Next, I painted both sides and the edge of the stocking with Anita's Brand acrylic paint.  The color is True Red (#11301).  I didn't used an acrylic paint pen this time because I didn't like the shade of red.  So, when painting your wooden tags, the less paint you use the better.  Quicker drying time.

3.  I forgot to punch a hole before I painted the stocking.  So, I pulled out my Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite and punched a hole in the top of the stocking.

4.  Next I used a Q-tip to paint the inside of the hole.

5.  Using, Stampin' Up's Craft ink in Whisper White and a stamp from the Christmas Wishes Stamp Collection from Pink By Design, I stamped the Christmas phrase onto the stocking. 

To order the Stampin' Up ink (as seen below), click here.

To order the Christmas Wishes Stamp Set by Pink by Design (as seen below), click here.

Here is a quick tutorial for those that have never used acrylic stamps:

 

6.  Next, I applied Snow-Tex with a paint brush to the top of the stocking and let it dry overnight.

 You can find Snow-Tex at any craft store, or order it here.



7.  I then applied Stickles in the "Icicle" color over the top of the Snow-Tex for a shimmery look and let it dry for several hours.

You can purchase some Stickles colors at craft stores, but for a more complete color selection take a look at the Crafts To Favor website here.



8.  For a finishing touch I hot glued a holly leaf and a tiny jingle bell to the stocking, both of which were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

And TA-DA!  Here is the finished tag.  You can stamp a "To" and "From" on the back to personalize, both of which are also sold in the Christmas Wishes stamp set.  Your friends and family will LOVE the personal touch you put on their gifts this year!